GM Dealers Look To Future

McConnell Automotive in Mobile has tangible proof they’re going to be around for awhile longer. The dealership was sent a letter Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 from General Motors stating they're going to be part of GM's future.

“I think we'll be a leaner, more competitive company,” says McConnell Automotive President Eddie McConnell. He says the restructuring plan helps streamline GM to just four car brands. McConnell says the bankruptcy will help this member of the big three get out from under so-called legacy costs that kept it from being more profitable.

“Decades and decades of really heavy costs that have kept them from being competitive in today's market,” says Eddie McConnell. Most of the dealerships we spoke with in the Mobile area say they aren't too worried about closures here because they say the market isn't oversaturated. With many changes afoot, local dealerships we spoke with say these moves will help them in the future.

“McConnell’s been here for 50 years and with these changes we'll be here for another,” says Eddie’s son and the New Car Manager Stan McConnell. The restructuring keeps them selling cars for the foreseeable future, which is better than the alternative.

“Which would have been from what I understand much more expensive to the tax payer in a liquidation circumstance than with this reorganization,” says Eddie McConnell.